Lawrence Wollersheim
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Lawrence Dominick Wollersheim is an ex-Scientologist. He brought a case against the Church of Scientology in 1980. In the course of this case, the story of Xenu came to public light.
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[edit] In Scientology
Wollersheim first became acquainted with Scientology in early 1969 when he attended a lecture at the “Church of Scientology of San Francisco.” During the next few months he completed some basic courses at the San Francisco institution. He then returned to his home state of Wisconsin and did not resume his Scientology training for almost two years.
When Wollersheim did start again it was at the Church of Scientology of California, headquartered in Los Angeles. From 1972 through 1979 Wollersheim underwent “auditing” at both the basic and advanced levels. In 1973 he worked several months as a staff member at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Center located in Los Angeles. In 1974, despite his repeated objections, Wollersheim was persuaded to participate in auditing aboard a ship maintained by Scientology. While on the ship, Wollersheim was forced to undergo a strenuous regime which began around 6 a.m. and continued until 1 a.m. the next morning. Further, Wollersheim and others were forced to sleep nine deep in the ship's hold. During his six weeks under these conditions, Wollersheim lost fifteen pounds.
Wollersheim attempted to escape from the ship because he felt he “was dying and losing [his] mind.” His escape was thwarted by Scientology members who seized Wollersheim and held him captive until he agreed to remain and continue with the auditing and other religious practices taking place on the vessel. One of the psychiatric witnesses testified Wollersheim's experience on the ship was one of five cataclysmic events underlying the diagnosis of his mental illness and its cause.
At another stage Scientology auditors convinced him to “disconnect” from his wife and his parents and other family members because they had expressed concerns about Scientology and Wollersheim's continued membership. “Disconnect” meant he was no longer to have any contact with his family.
There also was evidence of a practice called “freeloader debt.” “Freeloader debt” was accumulated when a staff member received Church courses, training or auditing at a reduced rate. If the member later chose to leave, he or she was presented with a bill for the difference between the full price normally charged to the public and the price originally charged to the member. Appellant maintained a “freeloader debt” account for Wollersheim.
During his years with Scientology, Wollersheim also started and operated several businesses. The most successful was the last, a service which took and printed photographic portraits. Most of the employees and many of the customers of this business were Scientologists.
By 1979, Wollersheim's mental condition worsened to the point he actively contemplated suicide. Wollersheim began experiencing personality changes and pain. When the Church learned of Wollersheim's condition, Wollersheim was sent to the Flag Land Base for “repair.”
During auditing at Flag Land Base, Wollersheim's mental state deteriorated further. He fled the base and wandered the streets. A guardian later arranged to meet Wollersheim. At that meeting, the guardian told Wollersheim he was prohibited from ever speaking of his problems with a priest, a doctor, or a psychiatrist.
Ultimately Wollersheim became so convinced auditing was causing him psychiatric problems he was willing to risk becoming a target of “freeloader debt” and “fair game.” During Wollersheim's experience with the church, “fair game” was a practice of retribution Scientology threatened to inflict on “suppressives,” which included people who left the organization or anyone who could pose a threat to the organization. Once someone was identified as a “suppressive,” all Scientologists were authorized to do anything to “neutralize” that individual - economically, politically, and psychologically.
After Wollersheim left the organization Scientology leaders initiated a “fair game” campaign which among other things was calculated to destroy Wollersheim's photography enterprise. They instructed some Scientology members to leave Wollersheim's employ, told others not to place any new orders with him and to renege on bills they owed on previous purchases from the business. This strategy shortly drove Wollersheim's photography business into bankruptcy. His mental condition deteriorated further and he ended up under psychiatric care.[1][2][3][4]
[edit] Legal actions
In 1986, a jury awarded Wollersheim $5 million in compensatory damages and $25 million to punish the church for what jurors called intentional and negligent "infliction of emotional distress." On appeal, however, this was reduced to $2.5 million.[1] Scientology officials vowed never to pay, and the phrase "not one thin dime for Wollersheim," was chanted by Scientologists at court hearings.[2] The church challenged the $2.5 million award, but the case was dismissed and Wollersheim was awarded an additional $130,506.71 in attorney's fees.[5]
In their 1991 appeal, the Church of Scientology asserted that "Fair Game" was a "core practice of Scientology", and therefore protected as "religious expression". This was also stated by Scientology attorneys in the case against Gerald Armstrong, in 1984, by religious expert Frank K. Flinn.[6][7]
After over 20 years of legal battling, the Church finally agreed to settle the case and pay out an $8.7 million settlement on May 9, 2002.[2]
The money that the Church of Scientology deposited with the court clerk was divided among the various attorneys of Wollersheim who made claims against the funds. According to Larry Wollersheim, as of May, 2005, there was less than $2.3 million left in the account and there was still an ongoing claim by attorney Leta Schlosser for $2.7 million against the fund. Wollersheim claims he had not received any of the funds from the case.[8] On October 28, 2005 it was reported in the Los Angeles daily legal publication, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, that the Wollersheim case was still ongoing and a trial was forthcoming regarding the Leta Schlosser matter. It reported that Schlosser had already received $100,000, but she was suing for much more.[9] On December 8, 2006, it reported that Wollersheim had won the case on appeal, because Schlosser lacks an enforceable lien because she did not comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct.[10]
[edit] FACTNet
In 1993, he co-founded Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network (FACTNet or F.A.C.T.Net) as an information resource on cults. FACTNet was soon involved in its own legal battles with Scientology.
[edit] References
- ^ a b s:Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology
- ^ a b c Ex-Scientologist Collects $8.7 Million In 22-Year-Old Case, Richard Leiby, Washington Post, May 10, 2002; P. A03.
- ^ Church Bulletin (HCOB) by L. Ron Hubbard, 12 March 1969 Issue II: "the disease or injury when he's got it is a body circumstance and responds best to skilled (ordinary, usual, put on a tourniquet, set a bone, give a shot) medical treatment."
- ^ "Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically", California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)
- ^ s:Church of Scientology v. Wollersheim
- ^ Bio data in "Confidential Scriptures in Religions", 27 Nov 1994
- ^ Fair game policy, excerpted court documents, Operation Clambake, retrieved 2/17/07.
- ^ Wollersheim, Larry May 16, 2005."Update Lawrence Wollersheim may need some of your help..." -- USENET posting
- ^ Grace, Roger (28 October 2005) "25 Years Later, a High-Profile Superior Court Case Is Still on the Active List" Metropolitan News-Enterprise
- ^ C.A. Rejects Attorney’s Lien Claim in Scientology Case, Metropolitan News-Enterprise, December 8, 2006
[edit] External links
- Church of Scientology pays $8.6M in legal dispute, USA Today, May 11, 2002
- After 22 years, church pays damages to ex-member, The Age, (Australia), May 11, 2002
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